SBIR Phase I (DoD)
Department of Defense
Eligibility
Small businesses (<500 employees) with majority US ownership; Phase I funds feasibility studies.
Award
$50k - $250k for 6-12 months
Deadlines
Multiple cycles · Multiple per year via DoD components
Editor's take
Component-specific solicitations (Army, Navy, USAF, etc.); read topics carefully.
Vet reviews of this program
Verified veteran founders who actually attended.
Nobody has reviewed SBIR Phase I (DoD) yet.
Attended this program? Share what actually happened and help the next vet decide.
- •Time spent: hours in-person, hours virtual, duration in weeks, required attendance.
- •Actual benefit: cash grants received, follow-on capital raised, cost coverage, equity taken.
- •Selectivity: cohort size, acceptance rate, percent veteran or military.
- •Best parts and worst parts: up to four each, specific facts, no marketing language.
- •Truth check: was the program marketing accurate? What did they oversell or leave out?
Related programs on the Startup path
These share at least one format type with this program and fit the same path.
SBIR Phase II (DoD)
Department of Defense
Phase I awardees with demonstrated feasibility.
SBIR (NIH)
National Institutes of Health
Small businesses developing biomedical / health technologies.
SBIR (NSF)
National Science Foundation
Small businesses developing deep tech / commercial science applications.